solarpowerportal.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Harker-BESS-Recurrent.jpg" class="aligncenter"> A layout plan for the newly approved BESS project. Image: Recurrent Energy / Windel Energy.

Planning permission has been granted for a 400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) development despite previous objections from the local community.

The 200MW/400MWh, 2-hour duration Harker project was granted “full planning permission for the construction and installation” for the system and “boundary dancing, access track, landscaping and other associated infrastructure” by Cumberland Council today (18 July), having been granted partial approvals last month.

The project, a joint development between Canadian Solar subsidiary Recurrent Energy and Northeast England-headquartered developer Windel Energy, will now be able to begin construction, although this is not expected to be until Q4 2029 unless an accelerated grid connection date is agreed. Located between the villages of Todhills and West Linton near Carlisle, the project will connect to the Harker National Grid substation via an underground 400KV cable.

Under the approvals, the developers have agreed to several conditions, including the use of specific paving materials, limiting construction to between 7:30am and 6pm on weekdays, the use of lighting design that does not disturb local bat populations, and strict noise mitigation measures.

Rockcliffe Parish Council had previously raised concerns about the development in the area, requesting that the developers provide effective screening and noise attenuation, noting that local waste management services working on previous projects “did not heed this advice and have been subject to numerous complaints from parishioners over the years they’ve been operating within the parish”.

Planning officers noted the Parish Council’s concerns, but noted in an earlier report “the council’s Environmental Health Officer does not share its concerns”.

Recurrent on the rise

Recurrent Energy has had several big wins so far this year, having last month secured planning permission for a 9.9MW solar farm in Wales, which is also a joint project with Windel Energy.

In May, Recurrent successfully landed a €1.3 billion (£1.1 billion) multi-currency revolving credit facility from ten major banks, to finance projects in the UK and across the EU.

Most recently, Recurrent’s Mallard Pass solar farm was finally granted a development consent order (DCO) from the new Labour government, after it was delayed first by the former secretary of state for energy security and net zero Claire Coutinho, and then by the snap general election announcement.

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